Chapter 15: The Scent Of Peach Brandy Burned In Her Throat
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The sun has set behind the mountains, casting a hazy darkness over the sky outside the ward.
A bright moon, obscured by dark clouds, reluctantly reveals a faint glow, outlining its shape against the clouds.
Director Liu, accompanied by Liu Meina, enters the ward, with an air of authority, saying, "All of you, follow me to the office immediately."
"Before my lawyer arrives, we refuse to obey any of your orders," Ji Xiao declares.
She sat upright on the hospital bed, showing no signs of being thrown off guard by Director Liu's sudden arrival.
Qi Qi glanced at Director Liu, then lowered her head and pulled the other three into a small group chat, where she and Fang Yiming scolded Director Liu and Liu Meina.
Wei Qingyu didn't even look at Director Liu, silently staring at the chat logs flooding the screen, lost in thought.
Director Liu sneered at their reactions, focusing his gaze on Wei Qingyu.
He stroked the stubble on his chin, pondering, "Qingyu, I recall... hasn't the scholarship for this semester been awarded yet?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the ward turned colder.
While Director Liu seemed to be asking a question, in reality, it was a veiled threat.
After the downfall of the Wei family, Wei Qingyu relied on others, and Ji Qingyun hardly gave her any allowance each month. Therefore, the scholarship should be her main source of income for this semester.
Hitting the snake's seven inches*, Director Liu was well aware that Wei Qingyu needed this scholarship, using it to intimidate her.
*weak point/ critical hit, they say that the snake’s heart which is the critical point is located seven inches below its head
The cold and sharp light fell into Wei Qingyu's pupils, leaving a touch of chill.
She glanced lightly at Director Liu, sitting calmly next to Ji Xiao, "Yes. I've always been realistic. What's mine will always be mine, and I won't insist on what's not."
"Realistic? Indeed, realism is necessary." Director Liu nodded, "Would you girls like to hear how the eyewitness describe this matter?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Qi hurriedly said, "Liu Meina is also involved; she can't be considered an eyewitness!"
Liu Meina looked disdainfully at Qi Qi, with a hint of pride on her face, "I wasn't in the water room at that time. How could it be me? There was a cleaning lady who saw Ji Xiao pulling Wei Qingyu to the school clinic when she passed by the water room."
Ji Xiao and Wei Qingyu exchanged a glance, both surprised that they were seen when leaving the water room.
It seems these two have probably bribed that cleaning aunt. Who knows what twisted words they'll hear later?
Regardless of the opponent's tricks, they need to be ready to counter them.
Ji Xiao nodded, "Alright."
"Come in," Director Liu said, and a cleaning lady in the school uniform walked in.
This person didn't look particularly simple; she arrogantly said, "I saw everything! Little students, there's no need to play tricks."
"Then, tell us, what did you see?" Wei Qingyu asked calmly.
"I had just finished mopping the floor and was passing by. I heard sounds from the water room, but the door was locked. Then, I saw a girl..."
The cleaning aunt vividly described the scene, and Ji Xiao couldn't help but feel a strong sense of rural gossip from her.
However, before she could finish her words, Wei Qingyu interrupted.
"Which girl?"
The cleaning aunt hesitated, finding it difficult to answer such a simple question. She had only seen a silhouette and couldn't be sure which one was the "Ji Xiao" that Director Liu asked her to confirm.
"Is it this one?" Wei Qingyu pointed to Ji Xiao.
Realizing that Wei Qingyu was not part of Director Liu's group and thinking she was trying to mislead her, the cleaning aunt shook her head, pointing to Qi Qi, "Don't deceive me. I know it was this..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Liu Meina burst out, "Shut up!"
Ji Xiao and Qi Qi, seeing the situation, both wore mocking smiles. They thought they had prepared thoroughly, but they exposed themselves right away.
Qi Qi shook her phone, saying, "Don't even think about denying it! I've recorded everything!"
Director Liu glanced at Qi Qi's phone's recording interface, his expression tightened. The arrogance from earlier subsided as he said, "This aunt is old, her eyesight is poor, and the incident happened suddenly. Understandably, she can't remember clearly."
"So, in this case, we have to doubt the authenticity of the statement made by this eyewitness. After all, Ji Xiao and Liu Meina have quite similar body shapes," Wei Qingyu calmly stated, making a move that put Director Liu in a difficult position.
Director Liu smirked, arms crossed, saying, "But I've searched the entire school, and this is the only eyewitness I found. The surveillance in the water room is also in disrepair, and the video evidence is unavailable. The only admissible evidence is this lady."
After finding him, Liu Meina immediately arranged for someone to destroy the surveillance in the water room. Even if Ji Xiao had extraordinary abilities, he was confident that she wouldn't be able to repair the video data in a short time.
Thick clouds outside completely covered the moonlight, making the sky oppressive.
Just when Ji Xiao felt the situation turning against her, a clear voice broke the silence in the room.
Wei Qingyu: "I have it."
She stood up, calmly placing her phone, which was playing the recorded video, in front of Director Liu. "This is a video I recorded with my watch in the water room. It captures everything from Liu Meina entering to Ji Xiao's arrival."
With this statement, everyone present was shocked.
Ji Xiao looked at the white mechanical watch on Wei Qingyu's wrist, recalling the moment when she woke up and saw her fiddling with the phone. It turned out that she had prepared for the current situation back then.
The phone clearly captured Liu Meina's face, and Director Liu's heart sank.
He quickly stepped forward, attempting to snatch the phone from Wei Qingyu's hand, but Ji Xiao swiftly raised her leg and kicked him in the chest.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ji Xiao firmly protected Wei Qingyu behind her, loudly demanding.
The Alpha aura burned fiercely in her golden-orange eyes, even causing Qi Qi to feel a sense of dread.
The light passed through Wei Qingyu's disheveled bangs, falling perfectly into her eyes.
Wei Qingyu stood behind Ji Xiao, still a bit shaken, as the scent of peach brandy burned in her throat.
She looked at the girl standing in front of her, and in her mind, a vast expanse of tender green grass instantly spread out. A long time ago, it seemed that there was a girl who was a head taller than her, also standing in front of her like this.
"Ji Xiao! You... you dare to kick me!!!" Director Liu, nursing his aching chest, angrily exclaimed. Over the years, accustomed to flattery and praise, being kicked like this, especially in front of students, made him feel extremely embarrassed. Immediately, he was about to raise his hand to teach Ji Xiao a lesson.
"Liu Zhen, what are you trying to do!" An elderly voice came from outside the door, instantly freezing him.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Several strong-bodied bodyguards entered the ward, positioning themselves on both sides of the door.
A man in a loose suit and a well-dressed elderly person appeared at the entrance of the ward.
"Principal, why are you here..." Director Liu's raised hand froze.
Ignoring Director Liu, the principal looked at Ji Xiao and asked, "Ji Xiao, are you okay?"
The tone was gentle and amiable, completely different from the seriousness earlier.
Ji Xiao shook her head.
Only then did she realize that the principal of their school was a little old man.
At the same time, the well-dressed man in the suit walked over and apologized to Ji Xiao, saying, "I'm sorry, Miss, for being a minute late."
Ji Xiao was taken aback for a moment. Was it only eleven minutes that had passed?
She looked at the clock on the wall, feeling like an eternity had gone by.
After regaining her composure, Ji Xiao sat back on the hospital bed with an air of nonchalance. "Since you're late, let's get started quickly."
"Yes," the lawyer nodded. "I have already received feedback from the company's technical staff just now. The video recording of the malicious damage to the water room is expected to be repaired in half an hour. We will pursue legal responsibility for damaging evidence, malicious framing, and spreading rumors.
Upon hearing the lawyer's words, Director Liu felt uneasy.
He didn't expect that his usual tricks wouldn't work this time.
Looking at the principal and the lawyer, he softened his tone and said, "In fact, when something happens between the children, I hope for a gentle resolution, with leniency and consideration for their mental and physical health, don't you think?"
"Although the country provides opportunities for reform for minors, the Ji family will not give up its right to pursue responsibility for this. Moreover, according to the investigation, the mastermind behind the incident is not Miss Liu Meina," the lawyer stated, looking towards the principal.
"The school absolutely supports a thorough investigation into this matter. Rest assured, the school will handle this matter from a fair and just perspective," the principal immediately assured with a serious expression. "The individuals involved will be dealt with seriously."
Director Liu couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.
The so-called "individuals involved" referred to him, didn't they?
"Since that's the case, you students can go back and rest for now. You have classes tomorrow. With Mr. Zhang, the lawyer, and me in charge, you can trust us," the principal empathetically addressed Ji Xiao, Wei Qingyu, and Qi Qi.
Ji Xiao had no intention of continuing to watch.
The video was recovered, and the fabricated audio evidence was sent. With solid evidence in hand, no matter how much mischief Liu Meina and Director Liu try, it won't work.
"Shall we go?" Ji Xiao stood up, looking at Wei Qingyu and Qi Qi.
Both nodded and, escorted by the bodyguards, left the ward.
Perhaps the departure of the students triggered complete panic in Director Liu's mind.
He looked at the principal, who was about to go to the conference room with the lawyer, and hastily said, "Principal, I was also deceived by this child. Considering the favor I did for you thirty years ago, rescuing you from the swamp, please help me..."
The principal, however, looked at Director Liu with deep disappointment, his face icy and filled with regret.
"Enough, Liu Zhen," the principal sternly said, "I know what you've been doing these years. Despite the past favor you did for me, I've turned a blind eye repeatedly. But you've gone too far! I am truly heartbroken. Blame it on my poor judgment!
"You just wait for the investigation!"
The resounding voice echoed in the silent corridor as people had already left.
Director Liu stood still, watching the principal's gradually receding figure, and then slumped against the wall.
"Uncle..." Liu Meina, seeing her uncle like this, became utterly panicked.
She crouched beside Director Liu, her voice trembling.
Director Liu pushed her away, gritting his teeth, "Don't call me uncle. This is all because of you!"
The farce ended just like that.
Ji Xiao, at the corner, sighed, "Why bother?"
Wei Qingyu paused at the sound of footsteps.
Indeed, why bother...
Under the escort of the bodyguards, the three left through the clinic gate and arrived at the Maybach parked at the entrance.
Looking at the all-black luxury car, Qi Qi's eyes gleamed, "Wow, the 62s! My dad rarely drives it. Do you still need another daughter in your family, Sister Xiao?"
Ji Xiao looked at Qi Qi with disdain, but her peripheral vision caught Wei Qingyu leaving alone not far away.
Under the dim yellow light, the slender figure of the girl was reflected with a white shirt outlining her thin back.
Her left hand, wrapped in heavy bandages, dangled down, and the white mechanical watch encircled her delicate wrist. Even with the innermost clasp fastened, it still appeared empty.
When the shock of Wei Qingyu taking out the video faded, Ji Xiao felt even more sad.
What kind of alertness would lead her to install something on her watch that ordinary people wouldn't think of doing?
Ji Xiao stopped Qi Qi from getting into the car, watching Wei Qingyu's receding figure, and said, "Let's go, walk me back."
